I was forced to cultivate immortality when I just wanted to lie down

Chapter 396 The Lesser Heavenly Array, Forming Factions

Those who wade in shallow waters catch fish and shrimp; those who wade in deep waters catch dragons.

Master Fuluan has been cautious and prudent his whole life, never seeking quick success or instant benefits, which is why it has taken him two thousand years to achieve what he has today.

But one tree cannot support a forest, and one hand cannot clap.

In times of great calamity, those who only aspire to small gains and fail to take a bold gamble will inevitably miss many opportunities.

Master Fuluan is no ordinary man. He offended the founding emperor two thousand years ago and has now displeased Xu Qing. If he does not turn back and make amends now, let alone become an immortal in the future, even if he is targeted by enemies or the underworld's Dharma Corpse, no one will lend him a helping hand.

Faced with the collapse of the empire, the founding emperor chose to unite as one and forgive him for his past misdeeds. Now, Xu Qingming is giving him a way out. If he doesn't seize this opportunity, then there will truly be no hope for him!
However, to prevent Xu Qing from using his position for personal revenge, Master Fuluan still spoke up to confirm, "This time the formation can't be the same Nine-Bend Yellow River Formation, can it?"

Although the Nine-Bend Yellow River Formation was extremely taxing on the formation master's magical power, Master Fuluan was able to grit his teeth and endure it in order to make up for his mistake of deserting in the face of battle.

Of course, if it weren't such a large formation, but rather the small formation that Xu Qing mentioned, that would be even better!

Xu Qing said sincerely, "That's impossible! The Nine-Bend Yellow River Formation can trap even a true immortal. Only a saint or god can break it. The reason I was able to set up this formation in Zhongzhou was because I borrowed the help of heaven and earth and used the water of the Nine-Bend River to reflect the formation. That's how I managed to maintain it for a while."

"Tianjin only has the mouth of the Jingu River and the waters of the Baijiang River. In terms of power, it is far inferior to the mighty Jiuqu River. How could I possibly take advantage of its strength to set up this formation?"

Master Fuluan breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that Fellow Daoist Xu's magnanimity was far greater than he had imagined.

"Hey! Look at what Fellow Daoist Xu is saying. If you really set up the Yellow River Formation for the benefit of all living beings, would I shrink back?"

That's hard to say.
Xu Qing smiled and said, "I naturally trust you, fellow Daoist. However, this matter is of great importance. Even if this formation is not the Yellow River Formation, I still have to be upfront about the unpleasant aspects."

Xu Qing suddenly stopped smiling and said seriously, "If Fellow Daoist Fu Luan retreats halfway and causes the Baisha River and Jingu Estuary to get out of control, not to mention the First Emperor, even I, Xu, will not show any mercy!"

Master Fuluan's face flushed red, and he began to utter incomprehensible classical Chinese phrases.

But when he saw Xu Qing's smile disappear and his expressionless face stare at him, Master Fuluan dared not utter another word of prevarication.

"I, Xu Junfang, am single-mindedly pursuing the path of immortality. Today, I swear to the heavens that if I retreat in fear and break my oath, then my path to immortality will be severed, and I will never again attain immortality!"

Seeing that Venerable Fuluan had made a vow with a Daoist heart, Xu Qing's expression finally relaxed.

Ghost Law is different from General Tiangong. The latter is only ranked eighth among the twelve sect leaders. Even so, when he was feeding back to Zhongzhou, Xu Qing had to put in a lot of effort. He even had to use the power of the Turbid River and mobilize the Nine Turns Yellow River Formation to resolve the spiritual tide that was like a raging torrent!

The former, Ghost Law, spans six ranks. The opponent is not only an out-of-control product cultivated by the Heavenly Emperor, but also a Ghost Law Master on whom the Nine Netherworld Corpse placed high hopes.

As the second-ranked of the twelve sect leaders, Gui Lu is destined to trigger an even more turbulent and violent tide of spiritual energy. If Xu Qing wants to purify Gui Lu's corpse and make it nourish the mortal world, he must set up a more secure 'guidance' formation.

The Nine-Bend Yellow River Formation could not be used, but a formation weaker than the Yellow River Formation could not be set up. After much deliberation, Xu Qing finally decided on the Capital Heaven Formation.

The Dutian Grand Formation is derived from the Twelve Dutian Divine Fiends Grand Formation, but it is a castrated version, retaining only the function of trapping enemies. It can be used to resist the spiritual tide and guide the water flow.

However, even though the Dutian Grand Formation was only retained for trapping enemies, it was still incomparable to ordinary formations.

The Twelve Heavenly Gods and Demons Formation and the Zhou Tian Star Formation are both of the same level of immortal-slaying and god-slaying formations, while the Nine-Bend Yellow River Formation is one level lower.

This kind of invincible formation, capable of slaying gods and Buddhas alike, is something that ordinary immortals and gods cannot even begin to comprehend.

It belongs to the forbidden practices explicitly prohibited by the laws of the celestial realm.

If Xu Qing hadn't obtained the approval of the wordless heavenly book in the secret cave of the Ersheng Temple on Mount Taihua and learned these formations, he would never have been able to facilitate the circulation of spiritual energy between the Yin River and the mortal world.

"The Heavenly Gang Axe Technique is a method for creating heaven and earth, and the supernatural formations in the wordless heavenly book of the Two Saints Temple are also techniques for battle and killing."

The more Xu Qing used the inherited supernatural powers in the secret cave of the Two Saints Temple, the more he felt that he had joined a special group from which there was no turning back.

"What's the difference between these array formations and supernatural abilities, and the heavy armor and weapons that are strictly prohibited from being privately owned in the secular world?"

Those who possess these things are either government officials or rebels.

"Traitor"

Xu Qing gazed at the Venerable Fu Luan, who was sitting cross-legged and adjusting his state, and fell into thought.

Currently, the connection between heaven and earth is severed. The upper realm can only govern the immortals and gods of its own realm, but cannot govern the mortal world.

No matter how many forbidden techniques he learns or how many weapons and equipment he possesses, the Heavenly Laws cannot do anything to him! However, the easier something is to obtain, the more the hidden price must be taken into account.

For example, why would someone be willing to risk such a great offense by secretly passing down these supernatural powers and forbidden techniques that are considered taboo and dangerous in the upper realm?

Furthermore, if someone were to accept these traditions, what would they need to give in return?
In the past, Xu Qing probably would never have been able to figure it out, but after these two battles against the Yinhe Sect Leader, he vaguely understood the meaning behind it.

The upper realm is now divided into two factions: one is conservative and numerous, all of whom support severing the connection between heaven and earth; the other is small in number but supports clearing away the calamities of the Nine Netherworlds and reopening the Heavenly Road.

This faction's ideas contradict those of the Heavenly Emperor; they are mostly deities with rebellious tendencies.

These immortals and gods who defied the will of the Heavenly Emperor, such as Lord Yuan, the master of the Little Water Curtain Cave, the heavenly god who secretly stored 'weapons' in the lower realm at the Two Saints Temple, as well as Nüba, the nameless old woman, and the Yama King, Dragon Tiger Mystic Altar True Lord, and Exorcist True Lord who have already returned to the Void and perished, are all included in this list.

Now, Xu Qing has unknowingly boarded a warship called 'Rebellion', a warship with no turning back and no way to stay out of it.

As long as the gods of the upper realm are unwilling to face the Dharma Corpse, this small number of immortals and gods will surely rise up in rebellion!

The inheritances left in the mortal world were not for the purpose of finding disciples, but rather to cultivate more forces to resist the order of the upper realm.

However, the nameless old woman and Yama, the King of Hell, are the kind of people who are out in the open and don't even pretend. These immortals and gods who live in the underworld and are the first to suffer calamities are practically telling all the gods and Buddhas in the sky, "I have a rebellious nature!"
The master behind the Ersheng Temple and the Little Water Curtain Cave was clearly more reserved, but this reserve contained an even stronger will to resist.

After figuring out the key points, Xu Qing's tightly furrowed brows never relaxed, but when he thought of his own shrine and the immortals waiting for him to return and take charge, he instantly returned to normal.

Some things, though seemingly unrelated, are actually predetermined.

If Xu Qing had not become the head of the Immortal Hall and had not accumulated great merit, he would never have reached where he is today, nor would he have gained the recognition of the Primordial Ancestor, the Heavenly God of the Two Saints Temple, and others, and learned their supernatural powers.

In other words, the moment Xu Qing chose to become the head of the Immortal Hall and the deity of the Baosheng Temple, he was bound to walk this path.

Now, it's just a matter of different paths leading to the same destination; his branch river has merged into the main river of the Heavenly Realm's troublemaker.

"The gods behind the Two Saints Temple have grand ambitions, and the master of the Little Water Curtain Cave is also secretly making arrangements, leaving behind a legacy in the mortal realm."

Xu Qing's gaze fell on the energetic Master Fu Luan. The radical and rebellious faction was already small in number, and he had inadvertently taken over most of the sacred legacy left behind in the secular world.

If he were to rely on himself alone, he would ultimately be unable to cope with the situation.

Since that's the case, why doesn't he also form cliques and bring all those unambitious, worldly masters who are unwilling to put in the effort onto this warship with no turning back, so as to complete his worldly scheme?

Xu Qing was preparing for the worst, but he was already harboring even more 'evil' thoughts.

"Master Zhuang of Lotus Cave on Jade Pool Mountain, Immortal Master Ge of Songyun Temple on Henglu Mountain, and ancient cultivators of the Ancient Shu School on Taodu Mountain."

Xu Qingguang felt his heart pounding with excitement at the thought of what he was about to do!
However, one should not rush into doing such virtuous deeds. At least one should wait until one has refined the Three Lights Divine Water and attained the status of a Water Demon before carrying it out.

Zombies are not subject to the Five Elements, nor are they within the Three Realms and Six Paths. Even if the path to heaven is blocked and cultivators cannot ascend to the upper realm, Xu Qing, as a zombie, can still disregard the restrictions on ascension and break through to the Kuiba realm in the mortal world, and even attain a higher level of enlightenment!

Master Fuluan was only focused on ascending to the upper realm, seeing the face of the Heavenly Emperor, and joining the ranks of immortals. He was completely unaware that after he had submitted his pledge of allegiance, it would be even more difficult for him to ascend to immortality through the orthodox path than for the resurrection of the First Emperor!

Xu Qing left Yinhe with a smile. In the following half month, he began to set up the Dutian Formation, starting from Baisha River and ending at the mouth of the Jingu Sea.

The Dutian Grand Formation is based on the Dutian Divine Fiend Grand Formation, which is the clan-protecting formation of the Wu tribe. This formation is driven by the power of the sun, moon, stars, and earth veins, and borrows the power of heaven and earth.

After Xu Qing transformed into a water zombie, he gained the ability to wield the Sun, Moon, and Star Divine Water, which belonged to the same Wu Clan treasures. This ability was perfectly suited to the Dutian Grand Array.

Xu Qing took out the array plate and array flags used when eliminating the Heavenly Fox of Baiyun Cave. This array plate had already been completely repaired by Bai Qiuyu and Daoist Yizhen, and was further maintained by the Yuan Shen True Person Jingxu Temple Master.

After all, that old female Taoist priest had repeatedly claimed that the array plates of her Five Elders Temple were of the best quality in the world and would never be damaged no matter how they were used.

As it turned out, Xu Qing only used it once, and ended up with a battle-damaged version of the array plate.
The abbot of Jingxu Temple lost face in front of the younger generation, so he naturally wanted to make up for it. This time, the array plates and array flags were of such high quality that they were almost on par with celestial-grade items. It could be said that there was no other like them in the entire mortal world.

"Young Xu, if you can break the array plate again, I'll work for your family's shrine for another fifty years to pay off your debts."

Xu Qing assumed the old woman was confident and didn't take the joke-like bet seriously.

But now, he hesitated.

As the Lord of Ten Thousand Ghosts, Gui Lu's difficulty in dismantling the opponent's physical body to nourish the world would be several times, or even dozens of times, greater than when he faced the Heavenly Fox of Baiyun Cave!
"I wonder if these array plates and flags, which are said to be of celestial quality, are really as effective as Abbot Jingxu claims."

(End of this chapter)